Can anyone give me any horse riding tips? I can never make my horse stop!

[Tracheostomy]

Had a few lessons, love it, got as far as rising trot and can usually direct my horse left/right successfully.

My issue is with stopping. 3 different horses I've ridden now where I just can't come to a halt unless the horse in front of me stops too. Even if I'm the only rider, sometimes I'll try to halt and my horse is like "nah, let's carry on!"

I went on my first hack today and really managed to piss off a woman who wanted to ride in front of me with her partner (he partner was already in front). My horse wouldn't stop to let her past and if she tried to trot past, mine raced her! and no protest from me made any difference.

So how do you stop a horse that just wants to carry on/follow the herd?

Me neither. But I'm assured it can be done. I've done spectacular dismounts between my horse's ears when I've wanted to jump but horse hasn't. Usually land on my arse. Or my face. I haven't fallen off for a while, but then I don't ride as regularly as I used to, or do the sort of stuff that'd be more likely to result in a fall any more. Bit sedate these days. I might pop over a little jump at a steady canter, but gone are my galloping, cross-countrying days :(

I had to bail out, on purpose, at gallop a few weeks ago when my friend had a bad fall but my horse wouldn't stop - am definitely getting too old for that sort of thing, the fear of going under those hooves was great

although of course the very second I was off he stopped

I learned how to fall - had to - fell so often. The last time I lost balance the horse spooked at a noise while trotting round the school. I had a moment to decide whether I should let myself fall, or try to haul myself back on to the saddle IYSWIM.

I had the time to decide to let myself fall and be in control of it, rather than just tip off the horse, and remembered to roll into a ball etc. Still managed to misjudge - the surface of the school was too soft and I kind of squashed into it rather than rolled, and broke my back :(

I'm not allowed to ride anymore (though was fortunate in that had no serious lasting damage). Just thought I'd say even when you know how to fall, and believe you can execute the perfect fall, you can get it wrong

Anyway, OP, I had the same problem as you for years. I agree with those above who say it is better to hold the reins the old fashioned way, rather than in a fist, as you won't be able to pull on them in the same way and set the horse against you (easy mistake to make as a beginner). In theory one should be able to learn to ride without using the reins (in an enclosed area) and that would include being able to bring the horse to a halt. Lots of work without stirrups too will help, as long as you don't use the reins to keep your balance (use the mane or saddle if you have to hold on to something!)

I had a break from riding, and went back to it after a few years to a new teacher with a different method, who took me right back to basics - i.e. wouldn't let me go further than a walk until she had corrected my bad seat habits. And seat was all we worked on for months and months and I found that I was much better able to control the horse. It might help, if you don't make any progress in your next lessons, to change teacher. If you sort your seat and weight distribution you will have much better control and be much more secure in the saddle.

Until you lose concentration and your horse spooks and you decide to fall properly of course... (joke - it won't happen to you)

ooh I fell off 2 years ago onto my side, on a baked earth paddock, it was dreadful, the biggest bruise covering one hip and virtually immobile for 12 hours, definitely too old for that! I heard it is virtually impossible to fall off a side saddle; perhaps over 40s should take that up?

Sorry i've not had time to read through this thread in full, i'm sure you've already received some great advice. The one thing I think is really important is keeping your hands low (a line from your horses moth to your elbow), if you lift your hands to balance as you slow down (which most beginners do) your horse will come up above the bit - lift it's head - and refuse to stop. Next time you are having a lesson ask your instructor to demonstrate this to you aswell as the correct amount of pressure on the rein. Couple this with keeping your legs still and 'freezing' your seat i.e. stop moving with the horses rhythm and making a fist of your fingers should do the trick! If all else fails and you really need to stop i.e. a road is coming up then heels down, lean back and pull the reins...it won't look nice, it won't do your horse any good, but you will stop!

I fell off NJNF a few years ago. I went out the side door. I must have put my arm out to catch myself, because when everything came back into focus, and the little blue birds stopped twittering round my head, I tried to get up. Only it wouldn't work! When I looked down, my arm was at completely the wrong angle, and was flapping limply. I still have flashbacks of that moment.
I'd broken my humerus. It really wasn't! humerous! I was so shocked I couldn't get up unaided. I lay on the manège for 3 hours whilst a paramedic arrived then sent for an ambulance.
You don't get a cast for a broken humerus. I was off work for 6 months in total!

On the subject of falling, I find falling off a fuckoff enormous horse gives you time to collect - I fell off an 18hh Shire three times, and all three times I landed on my feet. It was like falling off a sofa, really....

Sadly these days I only have the opportunity to fall off fuckoff enormous horses, since I am fuckoff enormously fat.

I don't think it'd be possible for me to fall off the horse I was on today. He's only tiny - barely more than a pony, and I have quite long legs. I must have looked like a Thelwell cartoon, and could probably have got away with putting roller skates on my feet and rolling along with him...

If you can't stop your horse and you don't know why you can't stop you need more lessons. If you carry on hooning around you are a danger to yourself and others.

Falling off hurts way more when you're over 40 - I clearly decided to prove that to myself with many lovely bruises as evidence!!

Don't tempt fate. My osteopath says the smaller the drop the more dangerous. Apparently 3 feet is the 'death height'! Because you don't have time to correct your position before you hit the floor!
NJNF was 12.3hh. I fell off plenty!

Perhaps I'd better ask for a bigger horse. I prefer bigger horses... Although on the plus side, I can actually knot my legs round the tummy of the one I've been riding - and he's a gypsy cob, so it's like riding a sofa.

If you stand up in the saddle and let your heels go down you will feel your weight going down into your heels. This takes a while if you are not used to it. Sit down slowly keeping straight. Your legs should be curved round and your weight will be distributed correctly. Your upper body and above knees will feel light as a feather. Now you can squeeze correctly and effectively.

But you should not be out of the school if stopping is a problem.

Falling off- horrible and a reason I no longer ride:( too scared now am older and have dcs. Wear a good hat all the time, and proper boots. Make sure your stirrup irons are big enough- you don't want to get dragged!

Yes, I agree, the horse I fell off was no more than about 14hh actually, so was a pony. I was far too big for him really but he is a tricky sod to ride so he was quite good practice. Well, until he wasn't, of course.

transitions are your friend. get your horse listening to you with lots of walk trot halt transitions